Dispenser



R. E. NEWBY se i. s, 1942.

DISPENSER Filed Nov. 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Rog .EJVewbg 0M4; d/x41:

ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1942.

R. E. NEWBY DISPENSER Filed Nov. 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet? 2: 2 2 E E i Patented Sept. 8, 1942 NHTED STATES AT orsic 2 Claims.

This invention relates in general to an improvement in dispensers, and in particular to a dispenser for wooden matches.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a manually actuated match dispenser designed to hold a suppoly of matches and to dispense the same without affording access to or spilling such supply; the device being constructed so that matches can be dispensed only one at a time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a match dispenser adapted to be actuated by the pressure of a persons thumb and index finger on a movable member; the match as dispensed and before such pressure is released being disposed in a position between said fingers convenient for grasping and removal.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a match dispenser adapted for use on cigar store counters and the like, and arranged to .3

which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following 15 specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the device.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, but showing the device with the parts thereof as in match dispensing position.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the device comprises a base I which includes bottom flanges 2 which project outwardly. An open ended rectangular housing 3 engages over the base and is secured in snug engagement with the sides thereof and at its lower end rests on flanges 2.

On opposite sides and centrally between the corners, the base is formed with sockets 4 in which are secured the lower ends of rigid vertical sleeves 5, such sleeves at their upper ends terminating a short distance above the upper edge of housing 3. Relatively long plunger rods 6 slidably engage in said vertical sleeves from the upper ends thereof, and normally, or when the device is inoperative, project only a relatively short distance into said sleeves. Helical compression springs I surround rods 6 from the sleeves 5 upward to a point adjacent the upper ends of said rods. The upper ends of the rods have nuts 8 threaded thereon, to hold the rods up.

A trough or hopper 9, which is V-shaped in cross-section, extends between rods 6 adjacent but somewhat below the upper ends thereof. Such hopper is formed with unitary ends II) which extend above the sides of the hopper, and at the top have out-turned or oppositely projecting ears II through which rods 6 project and which ears are disposed between nuts 8 and the upper ends of compression springs "I.

A vertical plate I2 is mounted on base I between and with its side edges alined with sleeves 5; the upper end of such plate slidably projecting through a longitudinal slot I3 in the bottom of hopper 9. The upper end of such plate is formed with a plurality of spaced but alined cradles I4, and between such cradles is drawn to a feathered edge; one of said feathered edges I5 being disposed centrally between the sides of the plate for the reason which will hereinafter appear. When the hopper is disposed in its normal and uppermost position, the upper end of the plate I2 and cradles I4 project only a short distance into the hopper, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

A rectangular shell I6, having upwardly and oppositely sloping top closure members I'I, engages over the hopper and rod assembly to enclose the same; the upper ends of rods 6 above nuts 8 projecting through openings in the top of such shell. Head nuts I8 are threaded on the upper ends of rods 6 and clamp the adjacent shell portion against nuts 8. The shell is thus mounted for downward movement with the hopper and plunger rods 6, and the lower end portion of such shell laps the upper end portion of housing 3. The housing 3 and shell I6 are spaced somewhat from each other whereby the bottom and side edges of all sides of both housing 3 and shell I6 can be bordered with angle members I9 mounted so as to form advertising card receiving channels C, and without interfering with relative telescoping movement of said housing and shell.

At the apex of shell I6 and which is formed by the adjacent edges of top members H, the shell is formed. with a longitudinal slot 20, parallel and corresponding to slot I3, through which the upper end portion of plate l2 may project; there being finger depressions 2| formed in top members I! on opposite sides of such slots centrally of its ends, and to register with the control feathered edge portion l5 of said plate.

In use, a supply of matches M is placed in hopper 9 and to dispense such matches from the device, said device is manipulated as follows: The thumb and index finger are placed in or adjacent the finger depressions 2|, and the shell I6 pushed downward as far as possible, carrying with it plunger rods 6 and hopper 9. Upon downward movement of the hopper, the upper end of the fixed plate I2, which is formed with cradles M, will push through the supply of matches and a single match will remain supported in said cradles in the manner shown in Fig. 2. When the hopper reaches its limit of downward travel, the upper end or cradle portion of plate I2 projects through slot 20, allowing the supported match to be grasped and removed by the same fingers which are holding shell I6 depressed; the feathered portion l5 facilitating grasping of the match. When released, the shell and hopper move upward to normal position under the influence of springs 1, whereupon cradles M return to the bottom of the hopper ready for another dispensing operation.

It will of course be understood that suitable means is provided to limit the upward movement of the housing as urged by the springs. As here shown, such means comprises a longitudinal slot 22 in one rod 6, and a stop pin 23 riding in said slot and mounted in the corresponding sleeve 5, as shown in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A match dispenser including a hopper for a supply of matches, spaced plunger rods mounted in connection with and depending from the hopper at its ends, a base, upstanding sleeves mounted on the base and into which sleeves the rods slidably project, compression springs on the rods between the sleeves and hopper and resisting downward sliding movement of said rods, a cover for said hopper, the cover having a slot therein parallel to the hopper and for the passage of a match lengthwise, and means operative upon downward movement of the hopper to dispense a single match through said slot; the hopper including end portions having out-turned ears through which said rods project, the springs engaging the ears from beneath and nuts threaded on the rods and engaging said ears from above.

2. A match dispenser comprising a hopper for a supply of matches, a peaked shell on and closing said hopper, the peak extending lengthwise of the hopper and being slotted for the passage of a match lengthwise, a plate slidably projecting into the hopper from below, and means mounting the shell and hopper for downward movement relative to said plate, the upper edge of the plate being formed with spaced alined match receiving cradles; the top of the shell being formed with finger depressions on opposite sides of and opening into said slot, the portion of the upper edge of said plate between said cradles being drawn to a feather edge and such feather edge portion being disposed between said finger depressions upon occurrence of sufficient downward movement of the shell and hopper to dispense a cradle supported match through said slot,

ROY E. NEWIBY. 

